Magic Roadshow
July 3rd, 2006 Issue# 50
Rick Carruth editor/publisher (C) 2006 All rights reserved
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July 3rd, 2006 Issue# 50
Rick Carruth editor/publisher (C) 2006 All rights reserved
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Hello Friends..
Greetings! Whether your preference is street magic, close-up, stage magic, childrens magic, or mentalism, I hope you find something to interest you in this very special Issue 50 of the Magic Roadshow. David Blaine presented his special, Criss Angel is on A&E every week, magic has seen an influx of exciting and extreme talent, new styles of playing cards abound, ellusionist, L&L, Penguin and others continue to pump out one great magic dvd after another, and magic is riding a real 'high' on account of it - (at least in our corner of the world.) If you want to become proficient, or more proficient in the art of magic.... now is the time to step up and make your move. Now is the time to make that investment in your future...
There... I've stuffed as many key words in the first paragraph as possible. Maybe the search engines will appreciate my effort. ;o)
Seriously now, I want to welcome all the new readers who have signed up since the last issue. And if any of you, new or old, have any questions, rants, raves, or request - EMAIL ME .
This is a very special issue for me.. number fifty. I began this little journey two years ago this month and have somehow managed to publish an issue every two weeks since. Fifty regular issues and two 'best of' issues later, I'm STILL two days late, as usual...
In all honestly, my efforts are a labor of love. I do make a few bucks when some of you buy an ebook, enough to pay for hosting and my list manager, but no where near enough to cover my time and effort. I do it because I love sharing, writing, and contributing. When I was young I wanted to be a writer. Then adulthood set in, and one job led to another, then another and another.
After side roads that included dark and dingy pool halls and the mix of hustlers and cheats that pass through their doors, to posh seaside resort islands and the professional athletes and beautiful fans that pass there as well... to conversations with serial killers and US Presidents.... I came back home to my first love - writing and sharing ideas.
Two years ago I decided I needed to do what I needed to do... I had procrastinated long enough, and Magic Roadshow was formed. Some of you have been with me since day one, and others of you have joined in as we progressed. Regardless, I want to sincerely -THANK YOU- for being a part of this little indulgence in the art of magic...
I think you will find this issue worthy.. I hope so anyway.
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In This Issue
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(01) I'm Not a Magician - a unique perspective we all have experienced to a degree
(02) Card Tricks & Sleight of Hand - A must-have resource
(03) Special Offer - read it..
(04) Nuts! - A professional effect for the cost of a nut..
(05) Criss Angel Levitation Revealed Video
(06) All the Great Secrets Revealed - Finally!
(07) Magic Show - My favorite site
(08) Join "Trick of the Month"
(09) Control Your Heartbeat - Free effect
(10) Expert at the Card Table - download
(11) SpamGourmet - Get rid of it
"Success is neither magical or mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals." Jim Rohn - The Ultimate Success Quotations Library, 1997.
"The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper."
Eden Phillpotts (1862 - 1960) English novelist, playwright, dramatist - A Shadow Passes.
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I'm Not a Magician
by Steve Owen
Before you 'back click' this article and go onto read something more interesting, let me explain. I am very new to this magic game, six months to be exact, but who's counting. From a very early age I have never yearned or had the calling to become a magician, or even to perform for that matter. Though I did have a
great uncle who is rumoured to have been a member of The Magic Circle. I have never used playing cards other than playing Pontoon/Blackjack (that one depends on which side of the Atlantic you reside) or for
affixing to the rear part of the frame on my bicycle to make that clicking sound as the wheel rotates, and I have NEVER tried that one with Rider Backs,just in case you were wondering. Until recently I have never seen a magician, except on TV, here I'm talking David Nixon, Ali Bongo and Paul Daniels, yes that long ago.
Sorry guys.
In short, I'm not from your typical magical background. I only have an interest in magic, yes that's right you could call me a 'hobbyist'. I am naive, and proud of the fact! I buy packet effects by the score. Some I can do verbatim, with little or no 'patter' as you magicians call it; others sit idly in my cupboard until I can either understand the badly photocopied instructions or have the skill to effect a triple lift or do an 'Elmsley' without 'Flashing'.
I'm big on magic terminology. I ask stupid questions of my local dealer, Chris, who patiently shows me the latest offerings and gives me ample advice, which I quickly forget as soon as I walk out of the shop (store). I don't read books; instead I rely on DVD's courtesy of Jay, Daryl, Aldo and Eugene. I do a mean sponge ball effect, totally ripped, word for word from Michael Finney's, though mine doesn't contain the watch steal, yet; and isn't as funny.
However, I never questioned the fact that when I bought a thumb tip it didn't contain any instructions, I do understand that one. With these stark facts in mind I feel as qualified as anyone out there to comment on magic and all its facades. You see I'm coming from a completely naive approach. I haven't got sufficient knowledge to argue what constitutes magic. Is it art or entertainment? I don't understand the 'can mentalism be magic' or 'can a magician really do mentalism' debate. You see, to the layman, sorry I mean audience/spectator, it doesn't matter, they enjoy the moment and entertainment of both mediums, and surely that's what matters.
I don't understand why we have 'magicians magicians' or why 'it fools other magicians badly'. These are terms I see often, in print, DVD's and in chat rooms. Surely a magician is a magician (no offence to Daryl by the way, I own several of his products) and it seems to me that the whole concept of magic IS based on 'fooling' the recipient using misdirection, sleight of hand or even NLP.
I'm middle aged and come from a varied background of motorcycling, road and cross country running, mountain biking and time trials. I have competed in adventure racing and triathlons. In short, I have done all manner of strange sports and pastimes and I've never once encountered the complexities that I have with magic, nor the divisions. In my world, if you run round the block, you're deemed a runner. If you cycle more than once a week you're a cyclist, and if you throw a swim into the equation then you're a tri athlete.
It's that simple, no more debate, that's what you do and that is your title. With magic though we all know it to be different. If you don't perform you're a hobbyist, if you use packet tricks you're not a real magician. Only sleight of hand counts. If you do perform, then there are all sorts of categories to choose from, you know them all.
To be honest though, I'm beginning to think that this is the attraction for me, the vastness of the subject. The secrecy; the subtleties; the misdirection and the history that surrounds it all. If I'm truthful, I enjoy the practice required to make a move look normal and smooth. The knowledge that I have spent hours or days learning and practicing something that you've not even noticed me doing. Hopefully!
Those who know I 'do magic' think I'm stark raving mad, spending hours shuffling a pack of cards for no apparent reason. I tried to explain it recently to my dad (who by the way inspired me to conjure) why it was necessary to spend time on such a mundane thing as a shuffle (that's a straightforward overhand, to those in the know) He didn't understand that I needed to shuffle the cards AND maintain eye contact with him. I think that's called misdirection. He got the picture when he tried it several times, and several times the cards went south.
We both learned that day, he learned that it's not that easy doing something simple and It confirmed, that to make anything look fluid and normal in magic takes hours of repetitive practice. Watch Guy Hollingworth second dealing, to see what I mean.
I've attended several clubs recently to decide which one I want to join, I've seen some very skilful card manipulators, all very young, and apart from replicating David Blaine's Ambitious card routine, and some excellent flourishes, I have witnessed very little magic. Change bags and Chop cups just doesn't cut it with those guys.
For me the hobbyist, and to those magicians out there (Mr Burger et al) Magic is not just about buying a pack of 'bikes' and asking 'choose a card, go on, any card' or opening the latest packet effect and being able to replicate the instructions within 5 minutes of discarding the wrapper. It's deeper and more meaningful than that. It's about dismantling the effect and building your performance from scratch, engaging the person choosing the card and giving them much more than an effect, giving them an interactive experience.
I have spent the last six months learning hundreds of tricks from all sorts of places. I know how the most common tricks are done. I've tried to do it 'fast track' via copycat techniques and magic forums. I've spent hours (and money)scouring the internet looking for the one piece of the jigsaw that will make me a magician by giving me good patter, flawless technique and astounding misdirection and do you know what, I've wasted my time.
Magic comes from within (as is often said). Not instructions, DVD's or even books, they offer the mechanics of an effect, not the effect of the effect. Magic shouldn't be about classifying or segmenting what or how the effect is done, nor is it about fooling anyone, surely it's about the end product. How the audience feels about what you have just done. That I HAVE learned. For me it's back to basics with the overhand shuffle.
Now I know what I want to achieve, I can now begin to build the foundations of my magic by learning how to acheive this. I've gone full circle in this short time and I'm glad of the journey.
Like I said before, I'm not a magician, but I'm learning fast.
Steve Owen
UK wanna be.
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Card Tricks & Sleight Of Hand - Learn Card Magic Online
I don't spend a lot of money online for magic. I have dozens of videos and dvds, and more books than I can count. So, when I DO buy something it has to be "something special.."
My friend, Brian Thompson of Cardsleights.com has created "something special."
To quote from Cardsleights site:
"If you want to be able to do card tricks then cardsleights.com is the answer. With a combination of written explanations, photographs and video you're sure to be performing in no time.
Everything you will learn on the site is done using standard playing cards, with no special magician's gimmicks. Using sleight of hand techniques you'll be able to perform card tricks for anyone, anytime and anywhere.
If you're a total beginner and you're worried that it will take years of practise to accomplish anything, think again. The reality is that, whilst there are plenty of complex moves you can learn, most card tricks rely on just a small number of simple techniques.
All the sleight of hand techniques and all the card tricks are explained in meticulous written detail along with hundreds of photographs and hours of video clips.
As a member you will have access to all the information on the site and all updates for an entire year, you can even download and keep everything you want. All written sections can be viewed online or downloaded as ebooks which can be viewed on any windows PC with internet explorer. The videos can be downloaded
in windows media format (.wmv) and played with windows media player.
As a member you will find sections covering basic techniques, self working card tricks, the overhand shuffle, the riffle shuffle, false cuts, transfer cuts, the glide, the glimpse, key cards, the hindu shuffle, forcing, flourishes and more."
Just as in the Royal Road to Card Magic, there are card tricks to learn along with every technique and you will find regular updates.
The latest update was an introduction to the double/multiple lift (20th June)
Updates over the next couple of weeks will be:
Two new card trick videos - Out of this World & Red Hot Momma ( These are two of the greatest card tricks of all time and you will use them constantly.) The Spread Cull, Advanced Double/Multiple Lifts, plus a very special access to a whole new bonus website on Balloon Modelling...
I counted over sixty videos and numerous extended ebooks in my members section. Each ebook and series of videos combine to explain every effect and trick so completely that there is never a doubt what you need to do to make it work.
I also enjoy being able to go to the site and looking up exactly what I want without having to find a tape or dvd and drudge through it looking for that 'one' effect.
Bottom line... Access to Cardsleights, the right to download all the good stuff, and learning a wealth of information from a great teacher is LESS than ten dollars... and darn well worth every penny.
Go to Cardsleights and view a sample video and text of ( and learn ) - "The 'In Air' riffle Shuffle and Cascade (or waterfall shuffle)."
http://www.301url.com/cardsleights
( See Below..)
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Special Offer to celebrate #50 ....
I wanted to do something special for you guys to celebrate issue 50, so.. everyone who purchases either a one year membership to Cardsleights -or- the Astounding Secrets ebook will get a FREE copy of "Easy Mentalism". If you want the details of this 100 plus page ebook, you can visit my site at: http://www.mentalists.info and read the details.
If you've bought Astounding Secrets in the past few weeks, I'm going to send you a free copy too. I have your email addresses in my control panel at Clickbank...
I hope to have a free ebook for everyone in the next issue. ( Not Easy Mentalism) I'm working out the details now, so we'll see how it goes...
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Nuts !
Performer takes a walnut, hammer, and knife and carefully opens the walnut shell. Then a card, let's say the seven of hearts, is folded and put inside the shell. The walnut shell is carefully glued back together to conceal any evidence of tampering. It's not a bad idea to make three or four of these gimmicked shells at one setting, using the same card, seven of hearts, in all the shells.
During a performance the performer forces a seven of hearts to a spectator, using whatever his/her favorite force may be. The performer cuts the deck as has the seven returned to the deck, catching a pinkie break above the seven. Bring the seven to the top and then riffle shuffle a couple of times while maintaining the position of the seven on top of the deck.
Holding the deck in the left hand, the performer places his right hand over the top of the deck while he tells the spectator that he is going to find his card in a very unusual way. Pushing the top card slightly forward with his middle three fingers, the performer presses down on the upper edge of this card causing the back of the card to rise upward into the palm. Now, with the top card in a palmed position, he hands the deck to the spectator with his left hand while quickly spiriting the palmed card to his pants or jacket pocked where he leaves the palmed card and produces a common inexpensive 'nut cracker'.
The performer tells the spectator that he is afraid things are going to get a little crazy, and that the nut cracker may be needed to help find the chosen card.
Laying the nut cracker on the table, the performer ask the spectator to kindly look through the deck, remove his card, and be careful to not let him see it.
After a couple of passes through the deck, the spectator must admit that he/she cannot find their chosen card. The performer says that IF the spectator is quite sure the card is NOT in the deck, then its time to look elsewhere.
The performer points out a small paper cup, turned upside down, on the table and asks the spectator if he noticed the cup. Regardless, the performer asks the spectator to look under the cup since he (the performer) doesn't want to affect the outcome of the magic. After turning over the cup and finding a single walnut, the spectator is asked to take the nut cracker and open the nut - revealing the missing, chosen card. If the performer prepared several nuts, they can all be placed under a cup and the spectator can have his pick of any one of the nuts.
Of course, you can use any type of container or box, locked box, nested boxes, or even a balloon to conceal the walnut. You can also use a two-way bag with prepared walnuts in one side and regular walnuts in the other side. After allowing the spectator to reach in a pick one of the prepared nuts, the performer can then empty the regular nuts onto the table and have several opened to show that only one walnut contained the chosen card..
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Criss Angel Levitation Revealed Video
I have hesitated for two months putting this link 'out there' because I didn't feel that it was appropriate. It's a video revealing the secret to one of Criss' levitations, and someone posted it to Metacafe and Putfiles. When I first found it, I expected it to be pulled and to disappear forever. But, I've continued to see links to the video in forums and print medium since, and I'm surprised..
I was sure Criss would want the video pulled, but, as far as I can tell, there has been no effort to have it removed. The turning factor was when I did a search of 'levitation' and found the video indexed and on page one of the results from Google. I suppose that was a result of just how popular the clip has become.
The method is fairly straight-forward, both in methodology and performance. It's angle sensitive for sure, but most levitations are. One would have to do a little 'tailoring' on their outfit to make this effect work, but thats a cheap price to pay.
I suppose Criss felt the attention he was getting from the video was worth the price of leaving it up. It was almost time for the new series to start, plus he had released the secret on dvd, which is a polite way of saying that he doesn't intend to use the effect any longer. Regardless.. it's still a good-looking effect.
I'm still not going to furnish you with the link, but, if you go to http://www.metacafe.com and enter the search term - criss angel spoiler - you can watch the video that has already been viewed by almost a quarter million other viewers...
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All the Great Secrets Revealed - Finally!!
OK.. you guys have asked for it, and here it is - all the great secrets of magic disclosed for free, at one location, for anyone who can click a link. I know many of you will email me to graciously thank me for directing you to this web site, and you are welcome...
I was first directed to this site by one of the legends of magic who swore me to secrecy and made me promise to keep this site private until he passed away. Well, last month this legend succumbed to toxic poisoning after soaking his feet in gasoline. (This dear friend had been erroneously informed by a elderly neighbor that this rather unorthodox method would cure fungal nails, an infliction which my friend had unsuccessfully dealt with for several years. What a waste of magical talent...)
Read on to discover the secrets behind :
Watch Steal - Vanishing the Statue of Liberty - Disappearing Silk Handkerchief - Coin in a Bottle - Bonaduce Levitation - Coin Bite... and this is just the Street Magic section.
Keep reading and you'll discover the secrets to: Levitations - Walking Through a Wall - Resurrecting the Dead - Cut and Restored Rope - Chinese Sticks - Linking Rings - Needle through Arm - Bullet Catch - Sawing a Woman in Half - Zombie - Professor's Nightmare - Gut Buster - Distant Touch... and this is just a few of the stage effects.
And if that wasn't enough, keep reading and you'll discover the one secret Presto said he would take to his grave - the 'think of a symbol' trick that not even yours truly can figure out.
Rush over to this highly informative site and bookmark it immediately...
http://www.mallusionist.com/index.html
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Magic Show
One of the very first resources I pointed my readers to was Allmagic.com and Magic Show, their weekly online magazine of magic tricks and effects. Nothing in magic compares to the volumn of magic thats discussed each week, whether it be close-up, stage magic, or card magic. You can always find about thirty different efects from some of the best minds in magic.
This weeks features, for example, include Jim Sisti talking about restaurant magic in 'Talk About', a section of mp3 recordings you can listen to while doing other task, and professional advice on concealing rope ends in 'Ask Mr. Magic'.
Card magic includes The Roto Deck, Courted (mind reading), Top Control (easy relocation), and The Whamo Deck, to mention a few...
Stage magic includes Appearing Knot, Ring Tied, Transformer (color change), and Confetti Glass Vanish.
Close-up effects are Radar Pens (mental gimmickry), The Prediction Kit, Purse Famed, Coin Sleighted, and Jump Back (rubber banding) to name just a partial listing.
On of my personal favorites is 'Magic Show Movies' which features a trick or effect in its entirety, including performance and handling. This week features Richard Robinson performing and explaining Spring Cards, which is a nice multiple card production, ala Jeff McBride.
Other effects in this section are detailed with photos and clear instructions. Cards, ropes, sponge balls, rings, mental magic - there's alway something for everyone, regardless of your style of magic.
All in all, there's nothing else quite like MAGIC SHOW...
http://www.allmagic.com
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Join 'Trick of the Month'
International illusionists and magicians Murray Hatfield & Teresa, currently Canada's Magician of the Year, would like to send you a trick. Actually, they would like to send you a trick every month for the next year.
They have a 'members only' site at trickofthemonth.com where you can sign up, free of course, and begin receiving your magic shortly thereafter.
Visit Murray and Teresa at:
http://www.trickofthemonth.com/
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David Blaine influenced a generation of magicians. Criss Angel is influencing a new generation as we speak. Each had the proper instructions and mentors necessary to become household names...
When you watch Criss perform on A&E on Wednesday nights, pay particular attention to his greatest tool, or I should say, his greatest TOOLS... Johnny Thompson, Luke Jermay, and Banachek. Watch as he brainstorms with three of magic's most creative minds to make his performances complete..
Having a great mentor is CRITICAL to your success in magic. Having awesome instructions is equally inportant IF you want to leave YOUR mark on magic..
Discover the Secrets
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Control your Heartbeat!
Have someone find the pulse in your wrist. If you want to get really dramatic, have two different people, one on each wrist. Tell them to feel your pulse with one hand and to tap out it's rhythm with the other. Tell them that you will slow and eventually stop your heartbeat all together. As they begin tapping, they are soon out of rhythm with one another, then they gradually get slower until there is no pulse felt at all. You can really make a big production out of this by acting like you're in a "trance" etc.
The secret: Hide a tennis ball under your arm, inside your shirt before attempting this. when it's time to slow your heart rate, simply press your arm against your body so that no one notices and the ball will press against the artery that feeds your wrist. They will feel no pulse!
You can really slow or speed up your heart rate with just a little practice.
Imagine you are in a very peaceful setting. Floating on a pond or in a pool on a tube or raft, just about to fall asleep. Once you can really imagine this (even feel the sun on your face), Take your pulse. It will be lower than it was before you started. To speed it up, simply do the opposite. Imagine that your are in some terrible situation, wolves are chasing you and about to catch you.
You are breathing hard and about to be caught. You run faster but it's no use, they are upon you, ripping and snarling! Now check your heart rate, It should be considerably faster than it was when you were imagining the peaceful scene.
With just a little practice and imagination, you can get pretty dramatic with this. It makes a great lead - in to the tennis ball trick!
Read this a other great bar and magic tricks at:
http://www.streetmagic.info/astounding.html
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Erdnases' Expert at the Card Table - Download
You can download your free version of Erdnases' classic ebook at this link..
http://www.301url.com/erdnase
If you have a problem, let me know and I will send you the ebook as an attachment
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SpamGourmet - free disposable email addresses
Hate to give your email address out for fear of getting spam? (like you aren't going to get spam anyway). I have a nearly perfect solution, it's called SpamGourmet. All you have to do to utilize it is sign up. It's really that simple.
How does it work? You give them your email address and it becomes your 'protected address'. Now, when filling out an email form you use a user name you create that's associated with your email. Mine is 'carruth00'. If I fill out a form and use the name carruth00(at)spamgourmet.com, it will forward to my normal email address - but only ONCE. This is perfect when you want to sign up for that 'free report', but don't want to get an unending series of follow-up emails.
You have the option of extending your email address to allow an exact number of emails to be forwarded to you, THEN they will stop. For example, I can use the email address freereport.5.carruth00(at)spamgourmet.com and I have an identifier at the front of my address, "free report", then .5. , which will allow me to receive five emails total from them. After that, anything they send will be bounce.
This is a great little tool to help control what gets to your inbox - and what doesn't ...
Go to their site and read their description.. it's much better than mine...
http://www.spamgourmet.com/
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Bless you for making it this far.. Next issue I might post a special link of some sort down here just of those of you who read this.. I sincerely hope you've taken something of value with you. I know I learn something from each newsletter, simply through the process of scouring the web, looking for resources...
If you know of any magic related resources on the web, share it with me so I can share it with others..
Again, If I can help you with your magic, Email Me
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Remember to visit some of my other sites at:
http://www.StreetMagic.info
http://www.MagicRoadshow.com
http://www.Mentalists.info
http://www.StreetMagicSecrets.info
http://www.BellaOnline.com/site/shareware
http://www.StreetMagic.info/blogger.html
And if you have a web site, visit my latest blog at:
http://www.AdSenseSecrets101.blogspot.com
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Wishing you a wonderful 4th of July Holiday...
Rick Carruth... editor/publisher
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Greetings! Whether your preference is street magic, close-up, stage magic, childrens magic, or mentalism, I hope you find something to interest you in this very special Issue 50 of the Magic Roadshow. David Blaine presented his special, Criss Angel is on A&E every week, magic has seen an influx of exciting and extreme talent, new styles of playing cards abound, ellusionist, L&L, Penguin and others continue to pump out one great magic dvd after another, and magic is riding a real 'high' on account of it - (at least in our corner of the world.) If you want to become proficient, or more proficient in the art of magic.... now is the time to step up and make your move. Now is the time to make that investment in your future...
There... I've stuffed as many key words in the first paragraph as possible. Maybe the search engines will appreciate my effort. ;o)
Seriously now, I want to welcome all the new readers who have signed up since the last issue. And if any of you, new or old, have any questions, rants, raves, or request - EMAIL ME .
This is a very special issue for me.. number fifty. I began this little journey two years ago this month and have somehow managed to publish an issue every two weeks since. Fifty regular issues and two 'best of' issues later, I'm STILL two days late, as usual...
In all honestly, my efforts are a labor of love. I do make a few bucks when some of you buy an ebook, enough to pay for hosting and my list manager, but no where near enough to cover my time and effort. I do it because I love sharing, writing, and contributing. When I was young I wanted to be a writer. Then adulthood set in, and one job led to another, then another and another.
After side roads that included dark and dingy pool halls and the mix of hustlers and cheats that pass through their doors, to posh seaside resort islands and the professional athletes and beautiful fans that pass there as well... to conversations with serial killers and US Presidents.... I came back home to my first love - writing and sharing ideas.
Two years ago I decided I needed to do what I needed to do... I had procrastinated long enough, and Magic Roadshow was formed. Some of you have been with me since day one, and others of you have joined in as we progressed. Regardless, I want to sincerely -THANK YOU- for being a part of this little indulgence in the art of magic...
I think you will find this issue worthy.. I hope so anyway.
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In This Issue
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(01) I'm Not a Magician - a unique perspective we all have experienced to a degree
(02) Card Tricks & Sleight of Hand - A must-have resource
(03) Special Offer - read it..
(04) Nuts! - A professional effect for the cost of a nut..
(05) Criss Angel Levitation Revealed Video
(06) All the Great Secrets Revealed - Finally!
(07) Magic Show - My favorite site
(08) Join "Trick of the Month"
(09) Control Your Heartbeat - Free effect
(10) Expert at the Card Table - download
(11) SpamGourmet - Get rid of it
"Success is neither magical or mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals." Jim Rohn - The Ultimate Success Quotations Library, 1997.
"The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper."
Eden Phillpotts (1862 - 1960) English novelist, playwright, dramatist - A Shadow Passes.
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I'm Not a Magician
by Steve Owen
Before you 'back click' this article and go onto read something more interesting, let me explain. I am very new to this magic game, six months to be exact, but who's counting. From a very early age I have never yearned or had the calling to become a magician, or even to perform for that matter. Though I did have a
great uncle who is rumoured to have been a member of The Magic Circle. I have never used playing cards other than playing Pontoon/Blackjack (that one depends on which side of the Atlantic you reside) or for
affixing to the rear part of the frame on my bicycle to make that clicking sound as the wheel rotates, and I have NEVER tried that one with Rider Backs,just in case you were wondering. Until recently I have never seen a magician, except on TV, here I'm talking David Nixon, Ali Bongo and Paul Daniels, yes that long ago.
Sorry guys.
In short, I'm not from your typical magical background. I only have an interest in magic, yes that's right you could call me a 'hobbyist'. I am naive, and proud of the fact! I buy packet effects by the score. Some I can do verbatim, with little or no 'patter' as you magicians call it; others sit idly in my cupboard until I can either understand the badly photocopied instructions or have the skill to effect a triple lift or do an 'Elmsley' without 'Flashing'.
I'm big on magic terminology. I ask stupid questions of my local dealer, Chris, who patiently shows me the latest offerings and gives me ample advice, which I quickly forget as soon as I walk out of the shop (store). I don't read books; instead I rely on DVD's courtesy of Jay, Daryl, Aldo and Eugene. I do a mean sponge ball effect, totally ripped, word for word from Michael Finney's, though mine doesn't contain the watch steal, yet; and isn't as funny.
However, I never questioned the fact that when I bought a thumb tip it didn't contain any instructions, I do understand that one. With these stark facts in mind I feel as qualified as anyone out there to comment on magic and all its facades. You see I'm coming from a completely naive approach. I haven't got sufficient knowledge to argue what constitutes magic. Is it art or entertainment? I don't understand the 'can mentalism be magic' or 'can a magician really do mentalism' debate. You see, to the layman, sorry I mean audience/spectator, it doesn't matter, they enjoy the moment and entertainment of both mediums, and surely that's what matters.
I don't understand why we have 'magicians magicians' or why 'it fools other magicians badly'. These are terms I see often, in print, DVD's and in chat rooms. Surely a magician is a magician (no offence to Daryl by the way, I own several of his products) and it seems to me that the whole concept of magic IS based on 'fooling' the recipient using misdirection, sleight of hand or even NLP.
I'm middle aged and come from a varied background of motorcycling, road and cross country running, mountain biking and time trials. I have competed in adventure racing and triathlons. In short, I have done all manner of strange sports and pastimes and I've never once encountered the complexities that I have with magic, nor the divisions. In my world, if you run round the block, you're deemed a runner. If you cycle more than once a week you're a cyclist, and if you throw a swim into the equation then you're a tri athlete.
It's that simple, no more debate, that's what you do and that is your title. With magic though we all know it to be different. If you don't perform you're a hobbyist, if you use packet tricks you're not a real magician. Only sleight of hand counts. If you do perform, then there are all sorts of categories to choose from, you know them all.
To be honest though, I'm beginning to think that this is the attraction for me, the vastness of the subject. The secrecy; the subtleties; the misdirection and the history that surrounds it all. If I'm truthful, I enjoy the practice required to make a move look normal and smooth. The knowledge that I have spent hours or days learning and practicing something that you've not even noticed me doing. Hopefully!
Those who know I 'do magic' think I'm stark raving mad, spending hours shuffling a pack of cards for no apparent reason. I tried to explain it recently to my dad (who by the way inspired me to conjure) why it was necessary to spend time on such a mundane thing as a shuffle (that's a straightforward overhand, to those in the know) He didn't understand that I needed to shuffle the cards AND maintain eye contact with him. I think that's called misdirection. He got the picture when he tried it several times, and several times the cards went south.
We both learned that day, he learned that it's not that easy doing something simple and It confirmed, that to make anything look fluid and normal in magic takes hours of repetitive practice. Watch Guy Hollingworth second dealing, to see what I mean.
I've attended several clubs recently to decide which one I want to join, I've seen some very skilful card manipulators, all very young, and apart from replicating David Blaine's Ambitious card routine, and some excellent flourishes, I have witnessed very little magic. Change bags and Chop cups just doesn't cut it with those guys.
For me the hobbyist, and to those magicians out there (Mr Burger et al) Magic is not just about buying a pack of 'bikes' and asking 'choose a card, go on, any card' or opening the latest packet effect and being able to replicate the instructions within 5 minutes of discarding the wrapper. It's deeper and more meaningful than that. It's about dismantling the effect and building your performance from scratch, engaging the person choosing the card and giving them much more than an effect, giving them an interactive experience.
I have spent the last six months learning hundreds of tricks from all sorts of places. I know how the most common tricks are done. I've tried to do it 'fast track' via copycat techniques and magic forums. I've spent hours (and money)scouring the internet looking for the one piece of the jigsaw that will make me a magician by giving me good patter, flawless technique and astounding misdirection and do you know what, I've wasted my time.
Magic comes from within (as is often said). Not instructions, DVD's or even books, they offer the mechanics of an effect, not the effect of the effect. Magic shouldn't be about classifying or segmenting what or how the effect is done, nor is it about fooling anyone, surely it's about the end product. How the audience feels about what you have just done. That I HAVE learned. For me it's back to basics with the overhand shuffle.
Now I know what I want to achieve, I can now begin to build the foundations of my magic by learning how to acheive this. I've gone full circle in this short time and I'm glad of the journey.
Like I said before, I'm not a magician, but I'm learning fast.
Steve Owen
UK wanna be.
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Card Tricks & Sleight Of Hand - Learn Card Magic Online
I don't spend a lot of money online for magic. I have dozens of videos and dvds, and more books than I can count. So, when I DO buy something it has to be "something special.."
My friend, Brian Thompson of Cardsleights.com has created "something special."
To quote from Cardsleights site:
"If you want to be able to do card tricks then cardsleights.com is the answer. With a combination of written explanations, photographs and video you're sure to be performing in no time.
Everything you will learn on the site is done using standard playing cards, with no special magician's gimmicks. Using sleight of hand techniques you'll be able to perform card tricks for anyone, anytime and anywhere.
If you're a total beginner and you're worried that it will take years of practise to accomplish anything, think again. The reality is that, whilst there are plenty of complex moves you can learn, most card tricks rely on just a small number of simple techniques.
All the sleight of hand techniques and all the card tricks are explained in meticulous written detail along with hundreds of photographs and hours of video clips.
As a member you will have access to all the information on the site and all updates for an entire year, you can even download and keep everything you want. All written sections can be viewed online or downloaded as ebooks which can be viewed on any windows PC with internet explorer. The videos can be downloaded
in windows media format (.wmv) and played with windows media player.
As a member you will find sections covering basic techniques, self working card tricks, the overhand shuffle, the riffle shuffle, false cuts, transfer cuts, the glide, the glimpse, key cards, the hindu shuffle, forcing, flourishes and more."
Just as in the Royal Road to Card Magic, there are card tricks to learn along with every technique and you will find regular updates.
The latest update was an introduction to the double/multiple lift (20th June)
Updates over the next couple of weeks will be:
Two new card trick videos - Out of this World & Red Hot Momma ( These are two of the greatest card tricks of all time and you will use them constantly.) The Spread Cull, Advanced Double/Multiple Lifts, plus a very special access to a whole new bonus website on Balloon Modelling...
I counted over sixty videos and numerous extended ebooks in my members section. Each ebook and series of videos combine to explain every effect and trick so completely that there is never a doubt what you need to do to make it work.
I also enjoy being able to go to the site and looking up exactly what I want without having to find a tape or dvd and drudge through it looking for that 'one' effect.
Bottom line... Access to Cardsleights, the right to download all the good stuff, and learning a wealth of information from a great teacher is LESS than ten dollars... and darn well worth every penny.
Go to Cardsleights and view a sample video and text of ( and learn ) - "The 'In Air' riffle Shuffle and Cascade (or waterfall shuffle)."
http://www.301url.com/cardsleights
( See Below..)
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Special Offer to celebrate #50 ....
I wanted to do something special for you guys to celebrate issue 50, so.. everyone who purchases either a one year membership to Cardsleights -or- the Astounding Secrets ebook will get a FREE copy of "Easy Mentalism". If you want the details of this 100 plus page ebook, you can visit my site at: http://www.mentalists.info and read the details.
If you've bought Astounding Secrets in the past few weeks, I'm going to send you a free copy too. I have your email addresses in my control panel at Clickbank...
I hope to have a free ebook for everyone in the next issue. ( Not Easy Mentalism) I'm working out the details now, so we'll see how it goes...
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Nuts !
Performer takes a walnut, hammer, and knife and carefully opens the walnut shell. Then a card, let's say the seven of hearts, is folded and put inside the shell. The walnut shell is carefully glued back together to conceal any evidence of tampering. It's not a bad idea to make three or four of these gimmicked shells at one setting, using the same card, seven of hearts, in all the shells.
During a performance the performer forces a seven of hearts to a spectator, using whatever his/her favorite force may be. The performer cuts the deck as has the seven returned to the deck, catching a pinkie break above the seven. Bring the seven to the top and then riffle shuffle a couple of times while maintaining the position of the seven on top of the deck.
Holding the deck in the left hand, the performer places his right hand over the top of the deck while he tells the spectator that he is going to find his card in a very unusual way. Pushing the top card slightly forward with his middle three fingers, the performer presses down on the upper edge of this card causing the back of the card to rise upward into the palm. Now, with the top card in a palmed position, he hands the deck to the spectator with his left hand while quickly spiriting the palmed card to his pants or jacket pocked where he leaves the palmed card and produces a common inexpensive 'nut cracker'.
The performer tells the spectator that he is afraid things are going to get a little crazy, and that the nut cracker may be needed to help find the chosen card.
Laying the nut cracker on the table, the performer ask the spectator to kindly look through the deck, remove his card, and be careful to not let him see it.
After a couple of passes through the deck, the spectator must admit that he/she cannot find their chosen card. The performer says that IF the spectator is quite sure the card is NOT in the deck, then its time to look elsewhere.
The performer points out a small paper cup, turned upside down, on the table and asks the spectator if he noticed the cup. Regardless, the performer asks the spectator to look under the cup since he (the performer) doesn't want to affect the outcome of the magic. After turning over the cup and finding a single walnut, the spectator is asked to take the nut cracker and open the nut - revealing the missing, chosen card. If the performer prepared several nuts, they can all be placed under a cup and the spectator can have his pick of any one of the nuts.
Of course, you can use any type of container or box, locked box, nested boxes, or even a balloon to conceal the walnut. You can also use a two-way bag with prepared walnuts in one side and regular walnuts in the other side. After allowing the spectator to reach in a pick one of the prepared nuts, the performer can then empty the regular nuts onto the table and have several opened to show that only one walnut contained the chosen card..
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Criss Angel Levitation Revealed Video
I have hesitated for two months putting this link 'out there' because I didn't feel that it was appropriate. It's a video revealing the secret to one of Criss' levitations, and someone posted it to Metacafe and Putfiles. When I first found it, I expected it to be pulled and to disappear forever. But, I've continued to see links to the video in forums and print medium since, and I'm surprised..
I was sure Criss would want the video pulled, but, as far as I can tell, there has been no effort to have it removed. The turning factor was when I did a search of 'levitation' and found the video indexed and on page one of the results from Google. I suppose that was a result of just how popular the clip has become.
The method is fairly straight-forward, both in methodology and performance. It's angle sensitive for sure, but most levitations are. One would have to do a little 'tailoring' on their outfit to make this effect work, but thats a cheap price to pay.
I suppose Criss felt the attention he was getting from the video was worth the price of leaving it up. It was almost time for the new series to start, plus he had released the secret on dvd, which is a polite way of saying that he doesn't intend to use the effect any longer. Regardless.. it's still a good-looking effect.
I'm still not going to furnish you with the link, but, if you go to http://www.metacafe.com and enter the search term - criss angel spoiler - you can watch the video that has already been viewed by almost a quarter million other viewers...
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All the Great Secrets Revealed - Finally!!
OK.. you guys have asked for it, and here it is - all the great secrets of magic disclosed for free, at one location, for anyone who can click a link. I know many of you will email me to graciously thank me for directing you to this web site, and you are welcome...
I was first directed to this site by one of the legends of magic who swore me to secrecy and made me promise to keep this site private until he passed away. Well, last month this legend succumbed to toxic poisoning after soaking his feet in gasoline. (This dear friend had been erroneously informed by a elderly neighbor that this rather unorthodox method would cure fungal nails, an infliction which my friend had unsuccessfully dealt with for several years. What a waste of magical talent...)
Read on to discover the secrets behind :
Watch Steal - Vanishing the Statue of Liberty - Disappearing Silk Handkerchief - Coin in a Bottle - Bonaduce Levitation - Coin Bite... and this is just the Street Magic section.
Keep reading and you'll discover the secrets to: Levitations - Walking Through a Wall - Resurrecting the Dead - Cut and Restored Rope - Chinese Sticks - Linking Rings - Needle through Arm - Bullet Catch - Sawing a Woman in Half - Zombie - Professor's Nightmare - Gut Buster - Distant Touch... and this is just a few of the stage effects.
And if that wasn't enough, keep reading and you'll discover the one secret Presto said he would take to his grave - the 'think of a symbol' trick that not even yours truly can figure out.
Rush over to this highly informative site and bookmark it immediately...
http://www.mallusionist.com/index.html
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Magic Show
One of the very first resources I pointed my readers to was Allmagic.com and Magic Show, their weekly online magazine of magic tricks and effects. Nothing in magic compares to the volumn of magic thats discussed each week, whether it be close-up, stage magic, or card magic. You can always find about thirty different efects from some of the best minds in magic.
This weeks features, for example, include Jim Sisti talking about restaurant magic in 'Talk About', a section of mp3 recordings you can listen to while doing other task, and professional advice on concealing rope ends in 'Ask Mr. Magic'.
Card magic includes The Roto Deck, Courted (mind reading), Top Control (easy relocation), and The Whamo Deck, to mention a few...
Stage magic includes Appearing Knot, Ring Tied, Transformer (color change), and Confetti Glass Vanish.
Close-up effects are Radar Pens (mental gimmickry), The Prediction Kit, Purse Famed, Coin Sleighted, and Jump Back (rubber banding) to name just a partial listing.
On of my personal favorites is 'Magic Show Movies' which features a trick or effect in its entirety, including performance and handling. This week features Richard Robinson performing and explaining Spring Cards, which is a nice multiple card production, ala Jeff McBride.
Other effects in this section are detailed with photos and clear instructions. Cards, ropes, sponge balls, rings, mental magic - there's alway something for everyone, regardless of your style of magic.
All in all, there's nothing else quite like MAGIC SHOW...
http://www.allmagic.com
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Join 'Trick of the Month'
International illusionists and magicians Murray Hatfield & Teresa, currently Canada's Magician of the Year, would like to send you a trick. Actually, they would like to send you a trick every month for the next year.
They have a 'members only' site at trickofthemonth.com where you can sign up, free of course, and begin receiving your magic shortly thereafter.
Visit Murray and Teresa at:
http://www.trickofthemonth.com/
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David Blaine influenced a generation of magicians. Criss Angel is influencing a new generation as we speak. Each had the proper instructions and mentors necessary to become household names...
When you watch Criss perform on A&E on Wednesday nights, pay particular attention to his greatest tool, or I should say, his greatest TOOLS... Johnny Thompson, Luke Jermay, and Banachek. Watch as he brainstorms with three of magic's most creative minds to make his performances complete..
Having a great mentor is CRITICAL to your success in magic. Having awesome instructions is equally inportant IF you want to leave YOUR mark on magic..
Discover the Secrets
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Control your Heartbeat!
Have someone find the pulse in your wrist. If you want to get really dramatic, have two different people, one on each wrist. Tell them to feel your pulse with one hand and to tap out it's rhythm with the other. Tell them that you will slow and eventually stop your heartbeat all together. As they begin tapping, they are soon out of rhythm with one another, then they gradually get slower until there is no pulse felt at all. You can really make a big production out of this by acting like you're in a "trance" etc.
The secret: Hide a tennis ball under your arm, inside your shirt before attempting this. when it's time to slow your heart rate, simply press your arm against your body so that no one notices and the ball will press against the artery that feeds your wrist. They will feel no pulse!
You can really slow or speed up your heart rate with just a little practice.
Imagine you are in a very peaceful setting. Floating on a pond or in a pool on a tube or raft, just about to fall asleep. Once you can really imagine this (even feel the sun on your face), Take your pulse. It will be lower than it was before you started. To speed it up, simply do the opposite. Imagine that your are in some terrible situation, wolves are chasing you and about to catch you.
You are breathing hard and about to be caught. You run faster but it's no use, they are upon you, ripping and snarling! Now check your heart rate, It should be considerably faster than it was when you were imagining the peaceful scene.
With just a little practice and imagination, you can get pretty dramatic with this. It makes a great lead - in to the tennis ball trick!
Read this a other great bar and magic tricks at:
http://www.streetmagic.info/astounding.html
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Erdnases' Expert at the Card Table - Download
You can download your free version of Erdnases' classic ebook at this link..
http://www.301url.com/erdnase
If you have a problem, let me know and I will send you the ebook as an attachment
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SpamGourmet - free disposable email addresses
Hate to give your email address out for fear of getting spam? (like you aren't going to get spam anyway). I have a nearly perfect solution, it's called SpamGourmet. All you have to do to utilize it is sign up. It's really that simple.
How does it work? You give them your email address and it becomes your 'protected address'. Now, when filling out an email form you use a user name you create that's associated with your email. Mine is 'carruth00'. If I fill out a form and use the name carruth00(at)spamgourmet.com, it will forward to my normal email address - but only ONCE. This is perfect when you want to sign up for that 'free report', but don't want to get an unending series of follow-up emails.
You have the option of extending your email address to allow an exact number of emails to be forwarded to you, THEN they will stop. For example, I can use the email address freereport.5.carruth00(at)spamgourmet.com and I have an identifier at the front of my address, "free report", then .5. , which will allow me to receive five emails total from them. After that, anything they send will be bounce.
This is a great little tool to help control what gets to your inbox - and what doesn't ...
Go to their site and read their description.. it's much better than mine...
http://www.spamgourmet.com/
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Bless you for making it this far.. Next issue I might post a special link of some sort down here just of those of you who read this.. I sincerely hope you've taken something of value with you. I know I learn something from each newsletter, simply through the process of scouring the web, looking for resources...
If you know of any magic related resources on the web, share it with me so I can share it with others..
Again, If I can help you with your magic, Email Me
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Remember to visit some of my other sites at:
http://www.StreetMagic.info
http://www.MagicRoadshow.com
http://www.Mentalists.info
http://www.StreetMagicSecrets.info
http://www.BellaOnline.com/site/shareware
http://www.StreetMagic.info/blogger.html
And if you have a web site, visit my latest blog at:
http://www.AdSenseSecrets101.blogspot.com
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Wishing you a wonderful 4th of July Holiday...
Rick Carruth... editor/publisher
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